A fire broke out on Monday night at a landfill in the Chicharrones neighborhood of Santiago de Cuba.
The blaze ignited around 9 PM on E Street between C Street and 3rd Street, according to reports shared on social media by journalist Yosmany Mayeta. Mayeta, who actively documents key events in his home province from Washington through his extensive follower network, reported the incident.
"The individual who provided the information requested anonymity due to fear of reprisals, and mentioned that 'the fire did not appear to be intentional,'" the journalist noted.
A brief video released showed firefighters arriving at the scene and preparing to extinguish the flames, which had erupted near residential areas. Although there were no material or human damages, Mayeta suggested that the incident serves as "a wake-up call for the city's health authorities to promptly clean up the large dumpsites in the city, especially given the severe epidemiological situation."
Oropouche Fever Outbreak in Santiago de Cuba
This Monday, Cuba's Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) confirmed cases of Oropouche fever in Santiago de Cuba province. This viral disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and flies.
The official statement from MINSAP noted that following "monitoring and surveillance actions for unspecified febrile syndromes in Santiago de Cuba province, the presence of the Oropouche virus was identified in two health areas: Ernesto Guevara in Santiago de Cuba and Carlos J. Finlay in Songo La Maya. This was based on samples studied at the national reference laboratory of the Pedro Kourí Institute (IPK)."
The Ministry of Health reported that all detected cases have shown favorable improvement, with symptoms lessening between the third and fourth day of the disease onset.
In subsequent statements, Francisco Durán García, the national director of Epidemiology at MINSAP, confirmed the presence of the Oropouche virus in Cuba for the first time. He warned that although the clinical presentation is not severe, it should not be taken lightly.
Unlike dengue and other diseases transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, Oropouche fever is spread by the Culicoides paraensis midge, which is present in the Americas, and the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito.
Durán García explained that the Culicoides paraensis midge has not been detected in Cuba, but the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito, which breeds in any type of water, including sewage and contaminated water, is present. This exacerbates the risk in Cuba due to poor sanitation.
"The worst part is that it breeds in any water puddle, even in sewage, making its control heavily dependent on public participation," the specialist noted in statements to Cuban Television.
“It exists in all provinces, all municipalities, and all regions... It is the mosquito that primarily causes discomfort during nighttime,” Durán García said about the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito.
The accumulation of garbage and sewage leaks are rampant in some neighborhoods of Santiago de Cuba, a phenomenon unfortunately spreading across the country.
This is not the first time in recent months that mysterious fires have broken out at landfills in different provinces.
Oropouche Fever and Fire Safety in Santiago de Cuba
Given the recent fire and the outbreak of Oropouche fever in Santiago de Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers to provide more clarity on these issues.
What caused the fire at the Santiago de Cuba landfill?
The fire's cause is currently unknown, but it is not believed to be intentional according to the source who reported the incident.
What measures are being taken to control the Oropouche fever outbreak?
MINSAP has implemented monitoring and surveillance actions and has identified the presence of the virus in specific health areas. All cases have shown favorable improvement.
How does Oropouche fever spread?
Oropouche fever is transmitted by the Culicoides paraensis midge and the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito, which can breed in any type of water, including sewage and contaminated water.